What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is defined as: “the active, holistic care of patients with advanced progressive illness. Management of pain and other symptoms and provision of psychological, social and spiritual support is paramount. The goal of palliative care is to achieve the best quality of life for patients and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable earlier in the course of the illness in conjunction with other treatments”. More latterly the importance of “early identification and impeccable assessment” has been added to this definition.

Principles of Quality Palliative Care

  Good palliative care:

• is applicable from diagnosis;
• affirms life and regards dying as a normal process;
• seeks neither to hasten nor to postpone death;
• integrates the psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of care;
• offers a support system to help people live as actively as possible until death;
• provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;
• offers a support system to help the family cope during a person's illness ,death and bereavement;
• uses team approach to address the needs of people with advanced progressive illness and their families
• will enhance quality of life